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National Commission chief withdraws resignation

The head of the National Commission who offered his resignation on Saturday over attacks on his integrity said that he would remain in his position.

Ali Saleh Al Saleh attributed his new decision to the fact that he respected the wishes of King Hamad Bin Eisa Al Khalifa to remain as head of the commission and valued his trust in him.

“The National Commission members and I pledge to oversee the implementation of the recommendations with the highest standards of honesty and credibility,” he said.

In a public letter he wrote to King Hamad Bin Eisa Al Khalifa, Al Saleh requested to be relived as head of the 19-member commission set up to oversee the implementation of recommendations presented by the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI) in November.

Al Saleh, who held the portfolios of commerce, industry and municipal affairs and agriculture and was appointed chairman of the Shura Council, the upper chamber of the bicameral parliament, attributed his request to the attacks by some people on his character, integrity and honesty.

The attacks seemed to be motivated by the reinstatement of four dismissed employees in the Shura Council. Hundreds of people were sacked from their jobs in the government and private sectors following a sectarian mistrust crisis that hit Bahrain in March and afterwards.

However, a reinstatement drive was launched following a national dialogue in July to help heal wounds and the publication in November of recommendations calling for allowing sacked workers and suspended students to resume their professional and academic lives.

Al Saleh’s resignation letter prompted several people to call for reconsidering his move, arguing that it would be a setback to national reconciliation efforts and that his leadership qualities were needed by the country as it seeks its way out of the crisis.

“Al Saleh has been known for his credibility, moderation and integrity since he became engaged in parliamentary and political activities decades ago,” Hassan Madan, the head of the Democratic Tribune society and a commission member, said. “Such qualities are seriously needed by Bahrain at a critical time of its history as it confronts deep tensions enveloping the country,” he said.